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Everything @ProfJeffries says is so profound and stated perfectly. So many gems I find myself taking notes on everything. Here’s a few of those gems. “Wherever white supremacists gather funerals follow.”

“We know the problem and how to fix it. Teach hard history accurately and effectively.”

Students were instructed to play a “runaway-slave-game”—-This is outrageous. It needs to stop. Let’s also talk about the more subtle examples of racism in teaching that get overlooked daily & don’t make the news that need to stop too. 1/ buzzfeed.com/salvadorhernan…

Open your social studies textbooks and read the sections on slavery & Black History. What do you notice? Whose voice and perspective are highlighted? How are white slave owners portrayed? How are enslaved people portrayed? What messages are being sent about slavery? 2/

Is slavery glorified? Do the very few pages of the text include examples of happy times and lead to inferences that slave owners weren’t all that bad? Does slavery sound like fun? 3/

Saw a FB post about losing friends, re: politics. One said "don't want to sound preachy, but this is why I don't do politics on FB anymore... I'd rather we were all just friends..." another responded with fear of being judged & losing friends.
& I couldn't be quiet.#ClearTheAir

Problem with this view is that far too much of politics acts as though ppls' identity, humanity, or dignity is up for debate. When ppl elect folks whose policies are based on oppression, you can't claim to all be friends. It doesn't work that way: not for ppl who being oppressed.

They responded to me w/ "Not every vote is based on identity..." & "some may be based on pure ignorance of the oppression you speak about because they themselves have never dealt with it & don't see it. Being able to have these conversations without judgement 1st can open eyes."

I made the lesson about the racist team name for all 6th grade advisory today. I am hopeful that it goes well: there are several videos for teachers to watch, in case they don't feel as comfortable facilitating the conversation. I'll keep you posted, #ClearTheAir & @ChristieNold

I even came up with a little bit of an "FAQ" and suggested responses for teachers to use with students who push back.

This lesson is about the harm caused by team names and mascots that are slurs or derogatory words.

I start with the 4 agreements & the new FQ.

The opening circle go-around asks "how can words and stereotypes be hurtful?" On screen will be a quote about the stereotype at the expense of the real Indian from the National Museum of the American Indian.

I have two slides on origin of the name & history of fight for change.

#ClearTheAir I have an issue. My school is "debating" the use of a slur as the name of a sports team: "Should the NFL require the Washington team to change their name?" I feel uncomfortable, and I tried to #causeascene but was told since NYC uses it as a topic for CW debate...

I plan to share @Tolerance_org 's "why two sides isn't enough" article, but I'm wondering if there are good resources from Native or Indigenous voices on why this SHOULDN'T BE A DEBATE? I did a quick Google search & my results were mixed (stupid bias-confirming algorithms).

A promising update: after my initial email to my principal this morning, she responded with "Thanks" & looped in the 2 APs to discuss my concerns & review the links I shared.

I followed up with more of the links from all of y'all & discussed the new lens for analysis.

The slide show my colleague had made for us to use included photos of the 1960s (as well as the video of I have a Dream) & one of the photos was of a KKK person holding a noose. I asked the (mostly white) teachers to consider the emotional labor being put on our Ss by showing it.

So, I am only three chapters in. Read chapter 12, then jumped to the beginning and read first two chapters. Background: I have read Brookfield's other work on critical thinking and discussion strategies (highly recommend both books) so I was looking forward to this one.

My work right now is focused on curriculum, but not just on diverse text selection. For me, it’s about embedding anti-bias, anti-racist pedagogies into my daily practices in big and small ways, but relentlessly so. #ClearTheAir#DisruptTexts

Another one of my goals is to become more active as a role model and mentor to the AAPI Ss in my school as the Ss organization faculty advisor. Because of the Model Minority myth, too often AAPI Ss needs as ignored or underserved. #CleartheAir

My librarian and I are co-facilitating a social justice book club which has so far gotten a great response. Out first selection was Just Mercy and Ts stayed for almost two hours after school to talk! Our next meeting will be focused on action we can take. #CleartheAir

2018: My Year of Reading. A thread that follows my reading journey from January to December. Every book I've read with a 280 character review. Tagged a few folks who influence the shape of my literary life 📚 #THEBOOKCHAT#DisruptTexts#TeachLivingPoets 📚

1. Never Let Me Go; Kazuo Ishiguro: A supremely crafted narrative begins unassumingly, but quickly reveals a different notion of childhood innocence and coming of age. The conversational tone fooled me into thinking I was walking into a world I understood. Nobel worthy.

2. We Should All Be Feminists; Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie: As an author who breathes eloquence, Adichie doesn't disappoint. This short book/long essay is insightful and logical and human. If we want to raise boys without the toxic masculinity, this is on the required reading list.

I used to think classroom management was just about teaching expectations, routines and procedures & then being consistent in your follow-up with consequences. I read TLAC after my first year teaching, & thought I just needed to develop my "strong voice" and other techniques.

Next, @Ramapo4Children taught me that the foundation of classroom management was actually relationship building & role modeling. I also learned to reframe how I viewed student behavior: as a form of communication about unmet needs & lagging skills. Structure alone wasn't enough.

Part of the challenge is that when you acknowledge classroom management is about relationships, it must become more individualized than simply teaching your routines and procedures. You need to get to know EACH student and react to them as individuals. It is a "lot more work."

Soooo one of the first pieces of news I heard this morning was about white nationalist rallies in DC, Charlottesville, and perhaps across the country.

It is shameful and beyond embarrassing (I have International friends all over the world) to think about how these are the same people who say the pledge of allegiance to, "One nation, under God, indivisible..."

It is difficult for me to understand the folks who throw their hands up, ignore, "don't know what to do..." because every move counts. Every conversation with your racist family member.

Good morning to all educators committed to reconsidering "behavior issues" and rebranding them as opportunities to invite someone in to conversation and connection. These are the moments for us to line up actions with all the things we say we believe.

As folks are designing behavior policies, codes of conduct, and expectations this time of year, it is especially important to remember the end goal and desired tone or flavor you want a classroom or school to have.

Focus too much on outcomes you do NOT want, and that's exactly what you're going to get. Children want to be happy. They are wired to love.

QHQ#2: Sean -
For Sean, disruption plays an important role - social connection, affirmation, negative attention. Now understanding that Sean wants to be seen, we may be able to better empathize with him. 1/n

Martin Luther King, Jr. said, "A riot is the language of the unheard, and what is it that America has failed to hear?" 2/n #ClearTheAir

Make some connections between Sean's story and how we view civil disobedience (say...Colin Kaepernick kneeling during the anthem, BLM protests). How have you viewed those movements or talked about those movements? What is your thinking now? #ClearTheAir

Hear ye! Hear ye! Welcome all new #ClearTheAir participants. Let's talk a little about what to expect. Note: There will be a little home learning/practice chatting at the end of this thread. So hang on until the end.

A short history lesson - Back in 2016 on New Years Eve Eve. I am sitting around mad about the election and came across an article about white fragility that I wanted to talk about and I asked twitter to join me. #ClearTheAir

I have lots of work to do so I am going to not do any of it and tweet about what's coming up for #ClearTheAir in the Fall!

Building this thread and will also create a Moment.

A few new things coming from #ClearTheAir. I think I convinced a few people to try out a video/podcast platform occasionally. I am going to work under the assumption they said yes.

We will have three books for the fall semester and three books for the spring. You do not have to read the books before we chat. If you are behind in reading, you will still be able to participate in the chat because we want you a part of the conversation. #ClearTheAir